Page Title

Meditations

Creating a "safe place" for the purposes
of meditation

A safe place is used in meditation in order
to help a person move into a safe and
relaxed state as well as when a person may
move into an emotionally difficult space
and are unable to move through the
experience and continue with the
meditation. While most will find many
meditations enlightening and relaxing,
some images, symbols visualizations or
even words may bring up strong and
unexpected feelings. If this happens then
the person is lead back to their safe place
in order to help reduce any fear or anxiety
that they may be experiencing.

Your safe place may be whatever you like
it to be. Just make sure that you create and
visualize a space that you feel safe and
comfortable inhabiting. For example, some
people visualize their childhood bedroom,
a room in a beloved grandparent's home or
a sun dappled clearing in the wild wood.
Any space that you can visualize well and
feel comfy in will work. If you have not
done this before then take some time to
create and visualize a safe place for
yourself. Once you have done this and can
bring up the image quickly in your mind
then you can visualize this space anytime
you need to feel safe and comforted. If well
constructed and used often enough your
visualized safe place can bring you a sense
of calm regardless of your physical
environment.

UnderWorld Meditation
written by: Godiva

Make sure everyone has some paper and a
writing tool near so that they can journal their
experience after the meditation is done.

Preparation for mediation

Before starting make sure that everyone has
created a “safe place” to start and end the
meditation. If there are some who do not know
what a safe place is and have not created one
take some time to explain what this is and
allow them to create a safe place for
themselves.

Have everyone sit or lay in a comfortable
position. Start by having everyone take several
deep breaths releasing the air slowly as they
exhale. When you feel that everyone has had a
chance to clear their minds then begin to take
them into a deeper state of relaxation by
having them contract/relax each muscle group
starting with the toes and working to the head.

Once you have moved through relaxing the
body, ask everyone to visualize their safe
place. Have them take a good look at this
space. What colors have you included in this
space? Is there anything else in this space? If
so, what? Is there a smell connected to the
space? Give everyone enough time to visualize
this space as fully as possible.

After a few minutes, ask everyone to see
themselves walking into their safe place. They
may enter their space by any means they feel is
appropriate and comfortable for them. Ask
them to look around this space again and allow
them to become situated and comfortable in
this space.

You are in your safe place and you look
towards western area of your space. As you
look in this direction a door slowly begins to
appear. At first the door looks like any
ordinary wooden door but as you look at it
more carefully you see that it has some
beautiful designs and symbols carved onto it.
You walk towards the door, reach out and run
your finger slowly over the rough outline of
one of the designs. You wonder to yourself
what the symbol stands for as you feel the
grooves of the carving run across your
fingertip. You then reach down and grasp the
door handle and slowly open the door. You
step into the threshold to see what is on the
other side.

The door opens up onto a natural forest in
early winter. You feel a cold breeze ruffle your
hair and see a soft, light blanket of snow
covering the brown grass and bare trees. You
step out into the forest. As your foot hits the
ground you hear the soft, crunch of snow and
frozen grass as you place your weight squarely
onto the earth. You can smell a light scent of
pine as you begin to walk into this quiet, cold
space. It is near sunset and the distant Sun
cannot compete with the silver clouds gathered
thickly on the horizon and across the sky.
Everything is gray, black and silver. All is at
rest in this forest. The only sound you hear is
the breeze blowing through the evergreens and
the crunch of your own footsteps.

As you walk along you notice a that there is a
cleared path that runs through two very large
pine trees that are located to your right. You
take a moment to examine this path. For some
reason it feels as if the path were cleared just
for you. It feels safe and welcoming so you
decide to follow this path to see where it will
lead you. As you step past the pines a small
amount of snow falls into your head. You feel
the soft coldness fall onto your neck. Looking
up towards the top of the two tall Pines, you
brush the snow from your hair smiling as you
do so. You continue along the path noticing the
gray rocks and bare trees as you go by them. A
couple of the larger rocks have the same
unusual symbols carved onto them. Again, you
wonder what these symbols mean. The path
suddenly ends at a clearing. 20 feet ahead of
you is a circular stand of old, bare Thorn
trees. Even in the winter their dark and twisted
branches look wonderful and magickal. As you
stand there admiring this view something
begins to appear between the two Thorn trees
situated at the top of the circle, nearest to you.
As you watch, a door slowly begins to appear.

This door is unlike anything you have seen
before. It is round and made out of a very
heavy and dark wood. The door looks ancient.
You walk towards the door and notice that the
same designs and symbols that were carved
into the first door you entered are also carved
on this door. The hinges and other hardware
on this door are made of an aged copper. They
are very ornate and elaborate. You reach out
and touch the door marveling at the
craftsmanship. The door feels very heavy and
very solid. You reach over to your right and
grasp onto the large copper ring doorknob.
Opening this door takes some effort. Once you
have opened the door you step out unto the
threshold.

The door opens onto a rough-hewn stone
staircase that spirals gracefully downwards.
The sides of the walls look like they have been
dug directly out of the earth. You can even see
tree roots poking out of from the walls and the
ceilings overhead. You reach out and touch
one of the walls; it feels cool to the touch but
very, very solid. The dirt smells sweet, warm
and fresh on your hands. The whole area is
filled with this scent. You then notice that at
waist level there is a thick rope that runs along
the side of both walls. The rope is held in place
by large copper rings that are embedded into
the walls. You pull on the ring nearest to you
and find that is it is held solidly in place and is
sturdy. You then see that as the staircase
begins to spiral out of your sight that there is
some kind of light being emitted from the walls
themselves. The light has an amber and golden
tone. It is very soft. You feel safe here and step
onto the first stair.

As you move down the stairs you notice that:

Everything has turned a vibrant and rich color
of red. The stairs are red, the walls are red
and you are this wonderful color of red.

As you continue down the stairs everything has
turned a warm color of orange. The stairs are
orange, the walls are orange and you are this
wonderful color of warm orange.

As you move into this part of the staircase you
also notice that running up and down the tree
roots and within the earth walls are small
golden balls of light. You realize that this is
where the light you noticed earlier is coming
from. The balls of light run up and down both
sides of the walls and above you on the ceiling.
The effect is very beautiful. You continue you
on.

Now everything has turned a welcoming color
of yellow. The stairs are yellow, the walls are
yellow and you are this wonderful color of
yellow.

Still you see the balls of light moving up and
down the tree roots. Weaving in and out of the
walls.

Everything has turned a comforting color of
green. The stairs are green, the walls are
green and you are this wonderful color of
green.

As you glance at the walls you see that the tree
roots are staring to get larger and the amount
of moving light intensifies. You can feel the
increased movement of energy.

You are still moving down the stairs and
everything has turned a serene color of blue.
The stairs are blue, the walls are blue and you
are this wonderful color of blue.

Everything has now turned a deep color of
Indigo. The stairs are indigo, the walls are
indigo and you are covered in this wonderful
color of indigo.

You have now come to the end of the staircase.
At this place there is a great deal of moving
light. Small circles of light swirling all around
you, through the large tree roots that cover the
walls and ceiling. The air is thick with the
energy from this moving light and you hear a
slight hum.

At the end of the stairs there is a door that
looks just like the one that was at the top of the
staircase. You reach across and grasp the
copper ring handle opening the door slowly.
The immediate area is now filled with a warm,
golden and very bright light. You take a
moment allowing your eyes to adjust to the
light and then step across the threshold.

The first thing you notice is the warm soft
breeze that caresses your exposed skin. As
your feet touch the ground you notice how soft
and warm this surface is. As your eyes adjust
to the light you look down and see that you are
standing in fresh, green grass and bright
morning sunlight. You look around and see
that you have stepped from the door and now
stand in between the same two Thorn Trees
that you left behind in the winter forest. Only
this time you are facing into the circle of Thorn
Trees and they are in full bloom. Their
branches are over loaded with pure white
blossoms. Between each Tree is a festival of
flowers in full bloom. Each flower vibrant with
color, scent and life. This place is a mirror
image of the winter forest; only it is in the full
bloom. You step further inside the circle of
Thorns to take in all this warmth and beauty.
You walk over to one side of the circle to more
closely admire a particular flower that has
caught your attention. You gently touch the
flower and marvel at its perfect beauty (slight
pause here).

As you bend down to take a deep breath of this
flower’s natural perfume you sense that there
is someone else here in the circle with you.
You look over to the opposite side of the circle
and see a bright, shapeless light approaching
from beyond the circle of Thorns. Slowly the
light comes closer to the trees and then enters
the circle of Thorns. As it comes closer it takes
on such brightness that you have to cover your
eyes and turn your face away from the light.
You then feel that the brightness is starting to
dim and you look in the direction of the light.
You see that it is beginning to take form and
shape. The light becomes dimmer and dimmer
as the being takes on mass until it is fully
present inside the circle of Thorns in physical
form. You watch the being as it walks slowly
towards you. You feel perfectly safe with this
being. As it comes closer towards you, you pay
close attention to what this being looks like and
how it is presenting itself to you. Take a
moment and get a good sense of what this
being looks like to you (pause here).

The being greets you in a pleasant manner and
in your own language. You are somewhat
surprised by this but answer in kind. The being
asks you how your journey was. You tell the
being about your travels to this place. The
being then tells you that you have entered into
the primordial world. Known to humans by
many names: the Underworld, the
Summerland, the Land of youth, the Isle of
Apples, the Land of the Fairy but also the
Garden of Eden.

The being continues speaking to you saying,
“this is the land of eternal youth and infinite
energy. It is from this energy that the surface
world is sustained and renewed. It is by this
energy that the cycles of the surface world are
insured continuation” You then realize that the
balls of light that you saw moving up and down
the tree roots and within the walls of the
staircase was the energy moving from the
primal world to the surface world. You look at
this being and realize that it has read your
thoughts and the being gives you an indication
that it approves of your understanding. This
makes you feel good.

The being then asks you if you have any
questions about this experience. You take a
moment to consider what you would ask then
you ask your questions (pause for a few
moments). The being answers your questions
(pause a few moments). After the being has
answered your questions it tells you that far
too many humans have forgotten this land and
how to connect to it. Most no longer remember
that it exists or they believe that it is simply an
old story. More frightening is that most
humans have forgotten that they have a sacred
duty to care for the surface world. Far too
many humans abuse and pollute the surface
world making it difficult to maintain the
balance needed between the surface world and
the primal world. The being explains. “while
we who live within the primal land can help
care for the surface world, we were not born
into that world and cannot care for it as
humans were meant to”. The being asks you if
you would be willing to reconnect with the
primal world and help care for the surface
world. You respond honestly. The two of you
continue you to speak for a few minutes (pause
for a few moments).

The being then escorts you back to the round
ornate door that resides between the two
Thorn trees. The being easily opens the
massive door and bids you a safe journey
asking you to remember this meeting. The
being then gives you a small gift to help you
remember this journey, to give you a way to
get back to the primal world and to remind you
of your answer to its question. You thank the
being and in return you give this being a gift
(pause for a moment here). The being thanks
you for your gift then asks you to step unto the
threshold to start your return journey to the
surface world. As you step over the threshold
the door closes and then melts into the earth
wall.

You begin to walk up the spiral staircase, this
time taking careful notice of the tree roots and
the bright balls of light that travel up and
down the roots and in the earth walls. As you
move up the staircase you and your
surroundings are covered in:

A Deep Indigo (Pause)
Then a Comforting Blue (pause)
As you continue you are now covered in a
Welcoming Green (pause)
Turning into a Vibrant Yellow (pause)
Then a Warm Orange (pause)
And finally a Lively Red

When you reach the last stair you reach over
towards the round, copper ornate doorknob,
take it in your hand and pull open the door.
You step onto the cleared path in the winter
woods. You are now standing outside of the
circle of Thorn Trees all dark and bare from
the winter cold. You look back and the round
door disappears from between the two Thorns.
You walk forward and find the cleared path.
You walk along until you come to the two giant
Pines that guard this way. You brush their
limbs as you go past them and thank them for
pointing you towards this journey. The trees
drop a little more snow on you head as if to
say “your welcome”. This time you do not
brush the snow from your hair or off you
shoulders.

Shortly you come to the ordinary yet ornate
door that leads you from the winter forest and
back to your safe place. You open the door and
step into your safe place. You take a good look
at the gift the Underworld being has given to
you. You then place the item down in your safe
place so that you will always have it when you
need it.

Take a moment to consider your underworld
journey. Take a few deep, slow breaths. When
you are ready, you will move from your safe
place and back into the room. Once you have
done this, begin to wiggle your fingers and
your toes. Open your eyes when you are ready.

Give everyone a few minutes to write down his
or her experience to be followed by a brief
discussion of the meditation.

A few things you might want to journal:

See if people remember what the symbols and
designs were on the doors and rocks
What was the flower you were looking closely
at?
How did the Underworld guide appear to
them?
What questions did they ask the underworld
guide?
What were the answers to their questions?
How did they answer the Guide’s questions?
What was the gift the Guide gave? Is it
symbolic of anything?
What gift do you give to the Underworld guide?
What was spoken of during the last part of the
conversation?
How did you feel throughout the journey?
What have you learn form this journey?

Glorious
Lantern of the
Sky

Glorious
Lantern of the
Sky, gone from
dusk to dawn,
Father teach me
how I can die
and be reborn

-Alan Windreader

Reclaiming the
Feminine Round
Meditation

Music: "Mystic's Dream" by
Loreena Mckennitt